In a major setback for the Congress ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Jalandhar, the party's candidate in the constituency, Rana Gurjeet Singh's nephew, Hardeep Rana, has joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The move comes as a surprise for the Congress, which had appointed Rana Gurjeet Singh as the in-charge of the by-elections in Jalandhar.
Hardeep Rana joined the AAP in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who welcomed him into the party fold. Several of Hardeep Rana's supporters and Congress workers also accompanied him to the AAP.
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It is important to note that the AAP had earlier fielded Sushil Rinku, a former Congress councillor who had recently joined the party, as its candidate in the Jalandhar by-elections. With Hardeep Rana now also joining the party, the AAP's prospects in the constituency have received a significant boost.
The Jalandhar by pollelections are scheduled to take place on May 10. The AAP, which is hoping to make significant inroads in Punjab, has been targeting the Congress, which has been beset by infighting and factionalism in recent times. The entry of Hardeep Rana into the AAP is likely to further dent the Congress' prospects in the constituency.